Actress Susan Sarandon was arrested this week at the New York state Capitol while protesting in favor of a higher minimum wage for tipped restaurant workers.
Ms. Sarandon, 76, was among eight activists arrested Monday for their demonstration in Albany, according to Spectrum News 1.
The station reported that the demonstrators were trying to get arrested by blocking security and pushing against officers for several minutes. Police took them into custody for disorderly conduct once they stretched a pink banner across the Capitol’s concourse.
Police left activists alone for several minutes. Several were confused why they weren’t getting arrested.
— Kate Lisa (@KaitlynnLisa) May 8, 2023
After blocking security for several minutes and pushing against officers, Susan Sarandon and @AnaMariaforNY were finally one of several to be arrested. pic.twitter.com/gRDq1DJfB5</ a>
The Oscar-winning actress was booked, issued an appearance ticket and released, according to WNYT-TV.
The protest was over how tipped workers in the Empire State are excluded from a new law that will raise the minimum wage to $17 an hour.
“They are very, very important and need to be treated with dignity, not only for the backbreaking labor that they do, but what they have to do to communicate and understand and be patient and all the things that are linked to a successful business,” Ms. Sarandon said at a rally before the protest, according to the Daily Mail.
Politico reported that when New York increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2016, income for tipped workers dropped by 25%.
Ms. Sarandon, whose movies include 1991’s “Thelma & Louise,” is active in political causes.
She was in the picket line for a Writer’s Guild of America strike in New York City last week.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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